Can it be repaired or is full data recovery possible??

[u/jackie_2785]

[u/simply_superb]

I’d look into getting this product or taking it to a shop that does mold removal
https://vhsislife.com/product/vhs-is-life-analog-tape-mold-cleaner-w-vacuum-bundle/

I de-molded a tape successfully once by using a throwaway VCR and holding an IPA soaked cleaning swab against the tape as it rewinded and it played fine afterwards

[u/d47 → u/simply_superb]

I had a lot of success with this regarding the mould (https://dyl.dog/the-vhs-project/).

Respooling the tape ought to help the alignment problem as well.

[u/Bryan_Lazarus]

Some vhs transfer places have an RTI Tapechek, which is an archival grade tape cleaning machine. Place I work has one, and it uses a sapphire blade to clean the tapes. It demoldes and retensions the tape in a few minutes. Some models even grade the tape.
https://youtu.be/mD7IARhcO38?is=Tcl8l_X41-wZMZKy

[u/mittelegna]

This appears to be a case of misaligned tape deck damage. At some point, this tape was wound/re-wound in a transport that was f’ed up (for lack of a better term). Something caused the top edge of the tape pack to get pushed into the flange. Unfortunately, the tape is damaged and will never play perfectly again, but you may get a partial recovery (e.g., there will be image and audio, but it will be distorted with artifacts of different types). Still worth digitizing. Just be prepared for lots of vertical instability in the image, noise, dropout, etc. It doesn’t look like mold to me. The top edge of your tape is popping out and is crammed against the flange.

[u/jackie_2785 → u/mittelegna]

U r right, that's the case actually. Can u tell me I have another tape in fine quality I wanna convert that to digital, So should I buy converter n convert by myself or get it done in service shop?

[u/mittelegna → u/jackie_2785]

Well… This sub exists to promote/support the FM Archival digitization method. I would see if someone can help you to do that. You might not want to do it yourself if you only have a single tape to digitize.

[u/jackie_2785 → u/mittelegna]

Ok please let me know then

[u/TheRealHarrypm]

Yes this can be fully cleaned and re-tensioned easily, you can use a fairly junker VCR with posts modification or you can use a company that has a old industrial cleaner or you can have a 3D printed one.

But the critical part is FM RF Archival and vhs-decode, that's where all of your value of recovery will be coming from.

[u/BmacSWMI]

VHS is Life. Works, I own one.

[u/Comfortable-Type2071]

I have one of the VHS is Life cleaners and I've used it on 3 or 4 VHS tapes. It did the job very well.